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Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, IA)

PublicHeadquartered in Iowa City, IA

The Press-Citizen is a marriage of two newspapers. The "Press" in Press-Citizen came from the Iowa State Press which was established in 1860 as a Democratic newspaper. The "Citizen" title comes from the Iowa City Citizen, a weekly Republican paper first published in 1891.

The two papers merged in 1920 for economic reasons, and the following year, the paper was bought by Merritt C. Speidel. He was president and publisher until 1937, when he moved to Palo Alto, California to establish the Speidel offices. Bill Hageboeck took charge of the day-to-day operations, although Speidel retained the title of president and publisher until 1942 when Hageboeck assumed both titles. Hageboeck retired in 1961 and was succeeded by Jack Liechty, then circulation manager, who became president and publisher. In 1966 Liechty was named secretary and general manager of the Speidel Newspapers Inc. in Reno, Nevada. Kenneth Greene succeeded Liechty in 1972. He had previously worked as the advertising director. Greene died unexpectedly in 1973. Others who have served as president and publisher include J.C. Hickman (1973-87), Mary Parks Stier (1987-1991), Dionicio (Don) Flores (1991-1993), Chuck Wanninger (1993-2000) and Mike Beck (2000-2007). Andrea Rhoades served as general manager in the final months of 2007.

In 2008, Susan Patterson Plank took over as general manager and Amy Sparby become operations manager. In the summer of 2009, Dan Brown became general manager.

The Press-Citizen building at 319 E. Washington Street was dedicated in 1937 and at the time housed one of the most modern newspaper plants in the country. The paper moved to its present location at 1725 N. Dodge St. on Jan. 21, 1991. In 1976, the Speidel Board of Directors voted to merge with Gannett Co., a move that was subsequently approved by stockholders and became effective May 12, 1977.

On September 15, 1997, switched from afternoon to a morning newspaper.

Our Sunday product in conjunction with the Des Moines Sunday Register first went to press Aug. 29, 1999. This product serves as a Johnson County edition of the Des Moines Sunday Register, allowing us to give our readers "the Best of Iowa and the Best of Iowa City."

In 2008, the Press-Citizen decommissioned its press and the Des Moines Register took over printing of the newspaper. In 2009, the Press-Citizen announced it would be contracting with Gazette Communications in Cedar Rapids to both print and deliver the Press-Citizen.

The Press-Citizen employs about 50 people.

Vision

Our mission is to provide responsible, accurate and timely information for and about our community. We shall hold ourselves and our work to the highest standards.

Contact

To apply for a job:
Send a resume and cover letter to
Opportunities@press-citizen.com

Advertising:
The Press-Citizen advertising department provides businesses and individuals with an incredibly efficient and effective way to promote their products, services, events and personnel. The advertising department is responsible for both display and classified advertising in the daily Press-Citizen, Marketplace (our free total market coverage product) and the Press-Citizen/Des Moines Register Sunday Package.

In addition, the advertising department produces more than a dozen special advertising sections throughout the calendar year. The Press-Citizen advertising department has a number of account executives that specialize in helping you to develop ad campaigns and providing rate options that work within your budget.

If you or your business is interested in placing a display advertisement, contact an account executive at (319) 337-3181. You can reach specific advertising account executives by asking for their extension.

If you want to place a classified ad, just click on this Place an Ad link or call one of our classified advertising specialists at (319) 339-SELL (7355), or contact our classified advertising department via email at classifieds@press-citizen.com.

Circulation:
The Press-Citizen Circulation Department is responsible for all newspaper delivery and customer service requests for the Press-Citizen, the Des Moines Register (in the Iowa City area) and the Press-Citizen/Des Moines Register Sunday Package. Circulation is also responsible for all newspaper sales, including home delivery subscription sales and single copy sales in stores and on news racks.

With over 200 newspaper routes to supervise, seven days a week, the circulation staff recruits and manages youth and adult newspaper carriers who deliver our products to readers in five counties surrounding the Iowa City area. In addition, circulation staffers handle home delivery subscription billing, mail subscriptions and incentive programs for all newspaper products.

If you are interested in subscribing to the Press-Citizen, the Des Moines Register and/or The Sunday Package please call (319) 337-6038 or send subscription information to Press-Citizen Circulation, P.O. Box 2480, Iowa City, IA. If you have a service request (delivery problems, stop/start your newspaper/vacation) please call (319) 337-6038.

Finance:
The Press-Citizen finance staff is responsible for a wide range of tasks: advertising and circulation billing, invoice payments, inventory tracking and preparation of financial reports, including yearly operating and capital budgets. Most business decisions - modifying ad rates, expanding circulation routes or reformatting the newspaper's layout - are made with input and analysis from the business office.

In addition, the finance department oversees all information systems operations for the newspaper, from personal computing systems to the building-wide network and pagination system. The Press-Citizen's accounting manager is Beth Leverich 319-337-3181 ext. 400.

Human Resources:
The Press-Citizen Human Resources Department is responsible for all company personnel issues, with the goal of creating a challenging, safe, equitable and profitable work environment for all Press-Citizen employees. Human Resources handles employee recruitment and retention, benefits programs, personnel training programs, continuing education and internal employee committees and incentive programs.

As an employer, the Press-Citizen offers employment opportunities that are suitable for all shifts and lifestyles. The Press-Citizen offers extensive benefits packages for full and part-time employees. For more information on job openings, benefits and equal opportunity employment information, contact human resources director Susan Spilger at (319) 337-3181, extension 414.

Market Development:
The Press-Citizen Market Development Department is responsible for overall strategic planning and research for the newspaper and its subsidiary products. This department creates and manages the company's external communications, including newspaper promotional campaigns, customer acquisition and loyalty campaigns, community interaction and sponsorships.

As the local newspaper, we understand the importance of giving back to our community. We do so through our sponsorship and promotion of many area cultural, educational and human service organizations and initiatives.

Our involvement with the Friday Night Concert Series, Iowa Center for Aids Research and Education (ICARE), the United Way of Johnson County, The Iowa City Jazz Fest, The Iowa City Community School District Foundation, The Iowa Arts Festival, and many other organizations are only a few of the ways in which we endeavor to be good corporate citizens.

In addition, through the Gannett Foundation community grant program, the Press-Citizen grants thousands of dollars each year to area non-profit agencies working to make our community a better place to live. Agencies such as the Salvation Army, Hillcrest Family Services, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, the Iowa Children's Museum, Youth Homes, the American Red Cross, the Emergency Housing Project and the Crisis Center are just a few of the organizations assisted by Gannett Foundation grants.

The market development director is Daniel Brown, and he can be reached at 337-3181 ext. 429.

Newsroom:
The Press-Citizen news staff is comprised of more than 30 award-winning reporters, editors and photographers who manage editorial content for our daily newspaper, as well as for the Press-Citizen/Des Moines Register Sunday Package.

The goal of the Press-Citizen editorial staff is to provide clear, comprehensive, and unbiased news and information from Johnson County, surrounding counties, Iowa, the nation, and the world. With a focus on locally developed news stories, in-depth enterprise pieces, comprehensive sports coverage and provocative editorials on issues of local interest, the Press-Citizen news department remains the Iowa City/Coralville area's news and information source.

Our local news staff is responsible for all of the day's local news; from breaking news in the Iowa City/Coralville area to news of national and international importance. From police/court reports, obituaries, marriages, anniversaries, dissolutions, births and neighbors news to local government reports and news from surrounding towns-the Press-Citizen is the source for Iowa City/Coralville area news and information. If you have a news tip or story idea please call or e-mail an appropriate reporter or editor. If you have a business, event or organizational announcement that you wish to have published, e-mail Kristi Chambers at kchambers@press-citizen.com or FAX your announcement to Kristi's attention at (319) 834-1083. We'll get it into the paper.

Our features staff produces our daily Life section, as well as our Thursday arts and entertainment guide Info to Go! The Press-Citizen features department is dedicated to providing news and information to help you with your daily life. Whether you're looking for something to do in your free time, some insight into movies, concerts or other performances running in the area, or tips to help you get the most out of everyday life, Press-Citizen features can help satisfy your need to know.

The Press-Citizen's sports department has long been recognized as the authoritative source for Iowa City/Coralville area high-school sports information and the place to turn for the best in Hawkeye sports coverage. The latest box scores, pre-and post-game analysis, expert opinion and action-filled photography distinguish the Press-Citizen's sports section as the most comprehensive available in the area.

The Press-Citizen's award winning photographers are consistently first on the scene to capture the action and emotion of news and sporting events. Our photographers help you to see the story and capture the faces and places of our community.

The Press-Citizen Opinion Page is an open forum for the discussion of issues affecting our communities, our state, our nation and the world. The Opinion Page offers the opinions of the Press-Citizen editorial board, the views of local and national columnists, and your letters. It is the place for you to speak out about issues that make a difference in your life.

Managing Editor Belinda Stewart (bstewart@press-citizen.com) is in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 319-337-3181 extension 428.

Assistant Managing Editor, Features Editor Trica Birt (tbirt@press-citizen.com) is in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 319-337-3181 extension 418.

In the evenings, Assistant Assignment Editor Brian Sharp is in until about 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 319-339-7360 extension 646.

The night number for the Press-Citizen is (319) 339-7360.

Online:
Over the past two years, press-citizen.com and its related online products have seen tremendous growth. All of this is due to the hard work of the Press-Citizen's online department which consists of Online News Editor Patrick J. Riepe, priepe@press-citizen.com and Online News Assistant Kenny Abrams. Their goal is to provide you with an innovative online product of the Press-Citizen - a product that serves readers and advertisers alike.

While we've grown, our online product continues to be a work in progress, and we're interested in your ideas for improvement! press-citizen.com is an online resource for you, our readers, so please take a moment and write us. Let us know what you think and tell us what features you would like to see in the future.

We realize the increasing importance of the World Wide Web and the Internet, and how they have become an integral part of daily life. We hope you find press-citizen.com to be informative and valuable, and look forward to bringing you more great online products down the road.

Production:
The Press-Citizen production department manages the composition of advertisements, the flow of newspaper pages, and the printing and inserting of the final daily newspaper.

We are a full-service, web offset printing facility. Whether it is our newspaper, our various real estate publications and The Add Sheet, or one of the many other commercial printing jobs we do for smaller local newspapers, production makes sure everything is high-quality for our customers and yours.

The production department can be reached through the production director Amy Sparby at 319-337-3181 ext. 419, Chris Hayes - production services manager ext. 421, and Ronda Hoffman - commercial print manager ext. 422.